The Trial Before Felix
Acts 24:1-9 KJV 1 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended
with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed
the governor against Paul. 2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus
began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness,
and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, 3
We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all
thankfulness. 4 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee,
I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. 5 For
we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among
all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the
Nazarenes: 6 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we
took, and would have judged according to our law. 7 But the chief captain
Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our
hands, 8 Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of
whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we
accuse him. 9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were
so.
Introduction
Paul had been taken by night to the city of Caesarea to face trial before the governor, Felix. Felix ordered him held until his accusers could arrive from Jerusalem. When they finally arrived, the trial was soon to begin. After five days, Ananias the high priest and the elders, along with a hired orator named Tertullus, arrived in Caesarea. Tertullus was hired to present their case against Paul before Felix. He was considered to be well versed in Roman Law as a prosecuting counsel. It is believed by some that he was a Roman who was able to give a formal oral abstract brief, or declaration of the grounds for the prosecution of Paul.
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Tertullus’ Presentation Against Paul
When Tertullus was given the time to speak against Paul, he began to accuse him. He began by flattering Felix. His opening speech was not but a case of base flattery used to influence a judge in a court of Roman justice. Dr.
Albert Garner had this to say concerning his speech:
"We welcome it (as deeply religious elders) both in everything and everywhere," your influence and reforms, changes for better reach. In this flattering opening where was a measure of truth, for Felix had put down certain bandit gangs of robbers that infested the country, but himself dealt in every license and excess, according to Josephus the historian…."Most excellent Felix," a title of nobility conferred on him, who was formerly said to have been a slave…."With all kind of thankfulness," more than I can tell you in feeble words. What pious hypocrisy and fickle flattery this orator Tertullus lay on thick! Concerning such flattery
Solomon advised, "He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favor than he that flattereth with his tongue,"
Proverbs 28:23.
Even children seem to recognize fickle hypocrisy and
insincerity in an exaggerated veneer of over compliments.
Of such Job 17:5 reads, "He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail," will not be able to face or countenance it.1
Tertullus continued:
"Yet, in order that I may not hinder you anymore," may take up no more of your busy and valuable time or schedule; Tertullus thus suggests that Felix was so engaged in public
duties that he would not deprive him of a moment of it more
than necessary, making Felix feel important…."I appeal to you to hear us," to give a responsive hearing to me, and my 297
colleague elders, from up at Jerusalem…. "Very briefly in your forbearance," in your equity, your fair play, as opposed to strictly following the law, a thing that Tertullus, the grandiloquent flattering orator feared in this case.2
"For we have found this man (to be) a pest," a rowdy meanderer, a loiterer. Proof or specific example would have
been more proper than bare exaggerated assertion in this court of Roman equity. The term pestilent means a "plague-breeder," yet he was really a preacher of the gospel of life eternal, eternal health, not a "disease spreader,"… "And an (incitor
who
stirs)
seditions,"
leads
unpatriotic
insurrections, exciting disturbances against the law and nation of Israel. Then why not give some specific example
please grand orator, pleading prosecuting attorney,
Tertullus!... "Among Jews" everywhere - He was the "hot air," "whole hog" type of accuser, without sustaining evidence…. "Throughout all the inhabited earth," a pretty big area of influence for one man, is it not? Tertullus, would you name the witnessesto back up these first two claims?
Don't drag in all the population, of all the Jews, in all the world. Simply present two or three witnesses to sustain each
of the charges or cut off the hot air please…."And a lead man of the Nazarene sect," from which it is generally known that no good thing comes, a term of derision among
the Jews, who often asked, "can any good thing come out
of Nazareth?" John 1:46….Tertullus was, as a prosecuting attorney the lead-lying witness against Paul, a professional, hired false witness who began his address with foamy
flattery, and lathered himself into a lying attack against Paul, alleging matters he knew were untrue and that he could not prove.3
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"Who also attempted to profane (desecrate) the temple; Deliberately tried to pollute the temple, a third falsehood that he could not sustain with evidence. Note: Tertullus, the orator that Jerusalem Jews hired to prosecute Paul before Felix the governor, invented three basic false charges against Paul: 1) A charge of sedition 2) A charge of heresy and 3)
A charge of profaning or desecrating the temple, without any
truthful evidence to support a single charge,… "Whom we even went so far as to lay hold of;" We grabbed in the very act, in his polluting the temple; This was a deliberate lie- -
not one witness, even one, did they have to sustain this charge, and Tertullus knew it. They had just "supposed" that he had brought an uncircumcised Greek into the temple….4
Tertullus then began to accuse Lysias of rescuing Paul with
great violence, taking him out of their hands. Tertullus seems to include himself with the Jews in this verse, but he was not a Jew, he was a Roman He intended to sway Felix with a form of intellectual dishonesty. He infers that Lysias was interfering with business that was none of his affairs.
He begins to infer that Lysias was wrong in commanding them to accuse Paul before Felix. In all actuality, Lysias was correct in his actions by doing so. Also, he did not use great violence in taking Paul out of the Jews’ hands. The Jews backed Tertullus in saying that all that he had spoken was true. This made them accessories to Tertullus lies. We must
note that no witnesses were called, no evidence was given at
any time to substantiate the accusations against Paul. In any ordinary court, this would not have been acceptable.
Paul’s Defense Presentation
Acts 24:10-21 KJV 10 Then Paul, after that the governor had
beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that
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thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the
more cheerfully answer for myself: 11 Because that thou mayest
understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to
Jerusalem for to worship. 12 And they neither found me in the
temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people,
neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: 13 Neither can they
prove the things whereof they now accuse me. 14 But this I confess
unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I
the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the
law and in the prophets: 15 And have hope toward God, which
they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the
dead, both of the just and unjust. 16 And herein do I exercise
myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God,
and toward men. 17 Now after many years I came to bring alms to
my nation, and offerings. 18 Whereupon certain Jews from Asia
found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with
tumult. 19 Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if
they had ought against me. 20 Or else let these same here say, if
they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the
council, 21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing
among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in
question by you this day.
Felix gave Paul the opportunity to defend himself against the charges that were laid against him. The prosecution had not called any witnesses or any substantial evidence against him. He began by greeting Felix and acknowledging that Felix had been a judge of the nation for many years, probably only about six or seven years, and had the experience needed to adjudicate Paul’s case. Paul states that he will cheerfully defend himself, not needing anyone else to defend him.
Paul states plainly so that Felix would understand and could verify if he chose to do so, he was just twelve days removed from the time he went to Jerusalem.
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"That there are, (exist) or have been no more than twelve days," less than two weeks, as follows: First, the day of his arrival in Jerusalem, Acts 21:15,17; Second, his interview day with James Acts 21:18; Third, that of his vow, Acts 21:26; The fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh day of his vow ending in his arrest, Acts 21:27; Eighth, appearance before
the Sanhedrin Acts 22:30,30; 23:1-10; Ninth that of
conspiracy, Acts 23:12; Tenth, the dispatch of Paul from Jerusalem to Caesarea, Acts 23:23-31, and the remaining period referred to Acts 23:33; 24:1, to show how unlikely he
had had time to do all that was alleged against him.
"Since (when) I went up into Jerusalem worshipping," a very different purpose from that motive imputed to him by his accusers. Would a man who had gone to a place for worship,
maliciously profane the peace? He would have Felix know
that he had gone to the feast in a very reverent frame of mind, to worship "in spirit and in truth," John 4:24, as well as to carry alms to his own nation, Romans 15:25,26.5
"And they (who accuse me) neither found me in the temple;"
He didn't have to be "found." He was there with others to worship, not incite trouble…."Discouraging or disputing with anyone," seeking to stir up a controversy or argument with anyone, nor can they produce such a witness, or they
would have. He was in the temple, but not teaching, … "Nor did they find me collecting or causing to come together a crowd," to incite sedition against my nation, in any manner, nor have they or can they produce a single witness of such, I categorically assert…."Neither did they find me in the synagogues or any other place throughout the city," doing a single thing that they have alleged thru Tertullus: 1) First, that I am a Seditionist, 2) Second, that l am an Heretic, and 3) that I have polluted or desecrated the temple.6
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"Nor are they able to prove to you," give factual, trustworthy evidence to you. Not a single one will go on the stand to give personal testimony against me on these charges, for not a single one can do it, and tell the truth. With boldness, Paul pressed his innocence of the charges before Felix;…
"Concerning the things of which they now and hereafter accuse me….7
After this defense, Paul begins to admit to Felix that what his accusers call heresy he did worship. He states that he worshipped the God of his fathers, believed all the things that were written in the law, and all that was written in the prophets. Simply, he believed what was written in what we call the Old Testament.
He went on to say that he had hope in God and believed that there would be a resurrection of the dead, both of the saved and unsaved. Because of this, he endeavored to work hard that when he stood before the Lord, he would not have to give an account of not witnessing and doing his best for the spread of the Gospel.
Now, he says, after being away from Jerusalem and Judea for many years, he returned with alms and offerings. The Jews from Asia found him in the temple, purified, neither with a multitude, nor with tumult, but rather with only those men from the church in Jerusalem who had purified themselves with him. Those were the Jews that should have been present before Felix if they had accusations against him. In addition, those present before Felix should have presented any evil doing in him when he stood before the council. If there was an exception, it would be touching the resurrection of the dead he was being called into question. There was nothing in all this being presented that would justify the charges against him.
Conclusion
Instead of giving a verdict right then, which would have occurred in a reasonable court, Felix wanted to have Lysias come before him as well. That is where we will begin in the next part.
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1 Albert Garner, Power Bible CD, his comments on Acts 24:3
2 IBID verse 4
3 IBID verse 5
4 IBID verse 6
5 IBID verse 11
6 IBID verse 12
7 IBID verse 13
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